Explosively actuated valves



April 3, 1962 J, THORP, JR 3,027,903

EXPLOSIVELY ACTUATED VALVES Filed Oct. 51, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 43 2338 22 33 25 3O 24 I 2 IO ll w I 9 36 I 4O 39 32 34 3l IB IQ 24' 26 2027/16 4 5 6 INVENTO JAMES T. THORP, JR.

ATT'Y.

FIG. 3

April 3, 1962 J. T. THORP, JR 3,027,903

EXPLOSIVELY ACTUATED VALVES Filed Oct. 31, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 JAMEST. THORR JR.

ATT Y.

FIG.

April 3, 1962 J. T. THORP, JR 3,027,903

EXPLOSIVELYACTUATED VALVES Filed Oct. 31, 1958 s Sheets-Sheet :s

76 FIG. 9 63 INVENTOR.

68 JAMES T. THORP,JR. 48 /5a BY FIG.H

ATT Y.

3,tl27,9il3 EXPLQSKVELY ACTUATED VALVES James T. Tharp, lax, WebsterGroves, Mo, assignor to Universal Match Corporation, St. Louis (Dounty,Mo, a corporation of Delaware Filed Get. 31, 1958, Ser. No. 771,649Claims. (Cl. 137-68) This invention relates in general to valves and,more particularly, to valves of the explosively actuated type.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a one-timeoperating, normally closed valve which can be explosively actuated topermit opening thereof.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide an explosivelyactuated valve of the type stated in which the valve is positivelylocked and retained in the open position once said valve has beenopened. I

it is a further object of the present invention to provide anexplosively actuated valve of the type stated including inlet and outletports separated by a diaphragm which is integral with the valve bodyand, therefore, guarantees against leakage of fluid between the twoports prior to opening of the valve.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a valveof the type stated embodying an explosively actuated diaphragm cutterwhich shears the diaphragm and traps the latter in such a position thatit can never interfere with the flow of fluid through the valve.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an explosivelyactuated valve of the type stated which prevents leakage of fluid orcontamination of the fluid by the gaseous products of combustionresulting from ignition of the explosive cartridge therein.

it is still another object of the present invention to provide anexplosively actuated valve of the type stated having an explosivecartridge which is fully potted within the valve opener so that there isno volume or head space between the cartridge and opener, therebyinsuring rapid pressure buildup and reliable operation when thecartridge is fired.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention resides in thenovel features of form, construction, arrangement, and combination ofparts presently described and pointed out in the claims.

in the accompanying drawings MG. 1 is a perspective view of anexplosively actuated valve constructed in accordance with and embodyingthe present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

MG. 3 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 2 and showing the valve justafter the cartridge has been ignited;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 3 and showing the valve inits opened position;

FIG. 5 is a sectional View taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 2 and showing a modified formof an explosively actuated valve;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 2 and showing still anothermodified form of explosively actuated valves;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIG. 7 and showing thevalve of FIG. 7 just after the cartridge has been ignited;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 2 and showing still anothermodified form of explosively actuated valve;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 9 and showing the valve ofFIG. 9 in the opened position; and

FIGS. 11 and 12 are fragmentary sectional views taken along lines 11-11and 1212, respectively, of FIG. 10.

Referring now in more'detail and by reference charac- 3,927,993 PatentedApr. 3, 1962 ters to the drawings, which illustrate practical embodiments of the present invention, A designates an explosively actuate-dvalve comprising an elongated rectilinear valve body 1 provided with anaxially extending cylindrical bore 2 which terminates at one end in athin walled diaphragm 3 integrally connected at its outer periphery tothe valve body 1. Also formed in the valve body 1, coaxial with the bore2 and separated therefrom by the diaphragm 3, is a cavity 4 whichterminates in a diametrally enlarged coaxial end hole 5, the latterbeing suitably provided with threads 6. Threaded into the end hole 5 isa closure plug 7 which is provided on its inner end with an integrallyformed frusto-conical abutment or anvil 3 having a flat surface 9disposed in slightly spaced relation to the cavity 4. The end hole 5 isalso provided with a counterbore 10 for receiving a lead sealing ring 11so as to provide a high-pressure fluid seal between the end plug 7 andend hole 5. Integrally formed on, and projecting outwardly from, onesurface of the valve body 1 is a boss 12 having a central passageway 13which communicates with the cavity 4, and, at its upper end, thepassageway 13 is provided with threads 14 for suitably receiving a fluidinlet line (not shown). Also integrally formed on the valve body 1 andextending at right angles to the boss 12 is-an outlet boss 15 having apassageway 16 which communicates with the central bore 2 and is alsoprovided at its outer end with threads 17 for suitably receiving adischarge line (not shown).

The central bore 2 is provided with a threaded end 18 which terminatesat its inner end in a conically tapered clearance portion 19, thelatter, in turn, merging with a cylindrical wall section 20. Mounted inthe threaded end 18 is a valve opener or ram 21 integrally including anut 22 and a threaded extension 23 projecting axially therefrom.Adjacent the nut 22, the valve body 1 is chamfered for receiving a leadsealing ring s which forms a fluid tight seal between the opener 21 andvalve body 1. The ram 21 also integrally includes a piston member 24disposed within the cylindrical wall section 20, and a thin walled zoneof weakness 24' formed with a peripheral groove 25, the latter lyingwithin the tapered clearance portion 19. At its forward end, the pistonmember 24 is integrally provided with a diametrally reduced forwardlyextending rod 26 which terminates in an integrally formed diaphragmcutter 27 provided with a cylindrical surface 28 which snugly, butslida'bly, fits Within the cylindrical Wall portion 20. The diaphragmcutter 27 is, furthermore, provided with a plurality of convergingannularly disposed somewhat triangularly shaped prongs 29, the ends ofwhich are located in spaced relation to the diaphragm 3 when the valve Ais in the closed position.

Internally thereof, the ram 21 is provided with a cartridge chamber 30for receiving an explosive cartridge 31 which is potted in place by asuitable sealing compound 32. Soldered to the terminals 33, 34, of thecartridge 31 are lead wires 35, 36, which are suitably insulated andencased in a plastic cover 37. Encircling the wires 35, 3d, and disposedagainst a shoulder 38 within the cartridge chamber 30 is a washer 39,which also covers the potting compound 32. Similarly disposed over thewires 35, 36, adjacent the washer 39 is a clamping sleeve 49, anddisposed around the plastic cover 37 in spaced relation to the sleeve 40is a second clamping sleeve 41. Also disposed over the plastic cover 37between the sleeve 40, 41, is a rubber bushing 42, and threaded onto theextension 23 is a cable clamp 43. In connection with the presentinvention, it should be noted that the potting compound 32 completelysurrounds the cartridge 31 and also fills up the cartridge chamber 30,thereby eliminating any free volume or head space .between the cartridge31 and ram 21. Furthermore, the potting compound 32 protects thesoldered connections between the terminals 33, 34, and wires 35, 36,against deterioration due to moisture or other corrosive elements.

In use, suitable conduits (not shown) may be connected to the inlet andoutlet bosses 12, 1.5, respectively. The cavity 4 and passageway 13 willbecome filled with the fluid, but the presence of the diaphragm 3 willprevent the fluid from flowing through the passageway 16. When it isdesired to open the valve A, current is supplied to the cartridge 31through the wires 35, 36, and, upon explosion of the cartridge 31, thezone of weakness 24' will rupture at the groove 25 and form a flaredpiston skirt 44 which will expand into contact with the wall of thetapered portion 19. The resulting pressure created by the explosion ofthe cartridge 31 then drives the piston member 24 and its associateddiaphragm cutter 27 to the position shown in FIG. 4, so as to shear aclean chipfree hole through the diaphragm 3 and seat the slug i5 soremoved against the anvil 8, whereupon fluid can flow from the inletbore 13 outwardly through the outlet bore 16. The clearance spacedformed by the tapered portion 19 allows expansion of the piston skirt44, and, as the piston 24 and associated cutter 27 move toward thediaphragm 3, the piston skirt 44- is radially constricted and thus formsa highly etficient metal-to-metal seal against the cylindrical wallportion 2%. This seal is maintained after the diaphragm 3 has beenpunched, as shown in FIG. 4, with the result that fiuid will not escapepast the piston member 24 and cause leakage in the valve A.

The sheared slug 45 seats against the anvil 3 while, at the same time,the cutter prongs 29 spread or flare outwardly into tight fittingfrictional contact with the end hole 5 and firmly lock the slug 45 inposition against the anvil 8. Since the slug 4d is sheared in one piece,there are no loose fragments to contaminate the stream of fluid passingthrough the valve A. Furthermore, the slug 45 is grimly gripped by thecutter 27 and is, therefore, prevented from twisting or turning beforeit is seated against the anvil 8. Moreover, when the slug 45 is seatedagainst the anvil 8, the frictional engagement of the cutter prongs 29with the walls of the hole 5 is sufiiciently tight so that there is nodanger of the slug 45 becoming dislodged from its position ofconfinement between the cuter prongs 29 and anvil 8. It should also benoted that since the cutter prongs 2-9 taper inwardly the cylindricalportion 28 will actually size the hole formed by removal of the slug 45to a reasonably smooth finish, thereby further precluding thepossibility of metallic fragments entering the stream of fluid flowingthrough the valve A.

it is also possible to provide a modified form of valve A as shown inFIG. 6, which is similar in construction and operation to the valve A,previously described, except that the clearance space for expansion andformation of the piston skirt 44 is formed by a diverging taperedportion 46 and a converging tapered portion 47 in the bore 2.Furthermore, the annular groove 25 is located in approximatelongitudinal alignment with the insersec tion of the tapered portions46, 4-7, with the result that a slightly greater clearance space forexpansion of the skirt 44 is formed as compared to the clearance spacein the valve A.

It is also possible to provide another modified form of explosivelyactuated valve A as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, which is also similar inconstruction and operation to the valve A, previously described.However, in this form of the invention, the tapered portion 19 iseliminated and the cylinder member 23 is diametrally smaller than thecylindrical wall section of the bore 2, so that there is a clearancespace therebetween. Consequently, when the cartridge 31 is fired, thezone of weakness ruptures at the groove and the piston skirt 44' isurged into contact with the bore 2 to form a metal-to-metal sealtherebetween.

It is also possible to provide a further modified form of explosivelyactuated valve A as shown in FlGS. 9-l2,

which comprises a valve body 48 having a central bore 49 terminating atone end in a tapered shoulder 5%. Integrally formed on the valve bodyand projecting outwardly from one surface thereof is an outlet boss 51provided with a threaded passageway 52 which is adapted to receive anoutlet conduit (not shown) and forms an extension of a chamber 53, thelatter being at right angles to, and communicating with, the centralbore 49. Coaxial with the bore 49, the chamber 53 is cut away in theprovision of a guide portion 54, and extending across the chamber 5'3adjacent the guide portion 5- is a thin walled diaphragm 55. Formed onthe valve body 48 is a forwardly extending inlet boss 56 having apassageway 5'7 which is of slightly larger diameter than the guideportion 5 and is separated therefrom by means of the diaphragm 55. Thepassageway 5'7 is also provided with threads 58 for suitably receivingan inlet conduit (not shown).

Threaded into the end of the bore 49 is a valve opener or ram 5?integrally including a nut 2-2 and threaded extension 23', each similarto the corresponding elements in the valve A previously described.Formed in the ram 59 is an annular ii-groove 60, and adjacent the groove64) the ram 5'9 integrally includes a piston member 61 integrallyincluding a cylindrical collar 62, the latter contacting the Walls ofthe bore 49. Spaced forwardly from the collar 62. the piston member 61is formed with an annular shoulder 63 which is shaped to wedge intofluidtight metal-to-rnetal contact with the shoulder 5% when the valve Ais opened as will be presently more fully described. Integral with andprojecting forwardly from the piston member 1 is a cutter 64 which isprovided with two pairs of holes 65, 66, 6'7, 68, the respective pairsof holes being at right angles to each other. As seen by reference toFIG. 9, the cutter 64 projects into, and extends across, the chamber 53and terminates at its forward and within the guide portion 54. Providedon the cutter is a U-shaped forwardly and downwardly presented cuttingedge 69 which includes spaced parallel longitudinally extending edgeportions iii, 71, which lie in upwardly spaced relation to the lowermostpoint of the diaphrgam 55.

Formed in the ram 59 is a cartridge chamber 72 for suitably receiving acartridge 73 having lead wires 74, 75, soldered thereto, and thecartridge 73 is surrounded by a potting compound '76, all similar to thecorresponding elements in the valve A previously described. Similarly, acable clamp 77 is threaded onto the extension 23, and disposed over thewires 74, 75, is a plastic cover 78, a washer 79, clamping sleeves so,81, and a rubber bushing 82, all similar to, and for the same purposeas, the corresponding parts in the valve A previously described.

In using the valve A a suitable current is applied to the wires 74, 75,so as to fire the cartridge 73, the explosion of which causes the opener59 to break at the V-groove 60, allowing the resulting pressure createdby the exploding cartridge 73 to force the piston member at andassociated cutter 64 along the bore 49 from the position shown in FIG. 9to the position shown in FIG. 10. As the shoulder 63 strikes theshoulder 59, the shoulder 63 will become wedged into fluid-tightmetal-to-metal contact therewith while at the same time the cutting edge69 will cut away a major portion of the diaphragm 55 and bend the latterto a substantially horizontal position, as shown in FIG. 10. Fluid maythen flow from the passageway 57 through the holes 65, 66, 67, 68, andthereafter through the chamber 53 and threaded passageway 52. Inconnection with the valve A it should be noted that the diaphragm 55 isnot completely sheared away, but is merely bent over and held in asubstantially horizontal position by the cutter 64. Moreover, since thebore 57 is of slightly larger diameter than the guide portion 54, stressconcentrations at the lower portion of the diaphragm 55 are materiallyreduced, with the result that there is little tendency for the diaphragm55 to become severed from the valve body 48. Furthermore, even if thediaphragm 55 should accidentally separate completely from the valve body48, the cutter 64 will confine the diaphragm within the bore 57 andprevent the diaphragm 55 from blocking the flow of fluid through thevalve A It should be understood that changes and modifications in theform, construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts ofthe explosively actuated valve may be made and substituted for thoseherein shown and described without departing from the nature andprinciple of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

l. A normally closed valve having a body provided with a bore having aterminal section and a fluid transduction section, the latter beingprovided with inlet and outlet passageways and also being provided witha cap member at one end of said bore, an inwardly presentedfrusto-conical shaped anvil mounted on said cap member and having aninwardly tapering section, a frangible diaphragm in said fluidtransduction section of said bore and interposed as a closure betweensaid passageways, a valve opener including a plug-like element rigidlyseated at one end in the terminal section and being internally recessedto povide a walled chamber having a zone of weakness and a portionextending beyond this zone of weakness toward the transduction section,said portion having an external diametral size substantially equal tothe internal diametral size of the bore so as to fit snugly butnevertheless slidably therein, a diaphragm cutter mounted on saidportion and facing toward said diaphragm, said diaphragm cutter beingprovided with a plurality of converging annularly disposed triangularlyshaped prongs which are in spaced relation to said diaphragm, andpyrotechnical means in the chamber adapted upon detonation for severingsaid valve opener at said zone of weakness and driving the severedportion of the opener and diaphragm cutter along the bore toward saiddiaphragm to cut through said diaphragm and form an opening connectingsaid passageways, whereupon the cut away portion of said diaphragm willbe seated against said anvil and the inwardly tapering section willcause said cutter prongs to deform and spread outwardly intotight-fitting frictional contact with said bore upon seating of the cutaway portion of the diaphragm.

2. A normally closed valve having a body provided with a bore having aterminal section and a fluid transduction section, the latter beingprovided with inlet and outlet passageways and also being provided witha cap member at one end of said bore, an inwardly presentedfrusto-conical shaped anvil mounted on said cap member and having aninwardly tapering section, a frangible diaphragm in the fluidtransduction section of said bore and interposed as a closure betweensaid passageways, a valve opener including a plug-like element rigidlyseated at one end in the terminal section and being internally recessedto provide a walled chamber having a zone of weakness and a portionextending beyond the zone of weakness toward the transduction section,said chamber terminating in an annular skirt, said portion having anexternal diametral size substantially equal to the internal diametralsize of the bore so as to fit snugly but nevertheless slidably therein,a diaphragm cutter mounted on said portion and facing toward saiddiaphragm, said diaphragm cutter being provided with a plurality ofconverging annularly disposed triangularly shaped prongs which are inspaced relation to said diaphragm, a detonable pyrotechnical chargepositioned withins said chamber, and potting material completelysurrounding said charge and filling said chamber, said pyrotechnicalcharge being operable upon detonation to flare said annular skirtoutwardly in tight seal-forming engagement with said bore, saiddetonation further causing said plug-like ele ment to break apart andthereby sever a piston-like solid portion from the rigidly seatedportion at the zone of weakness and drive the severed portion of thevalve opener and cutter along the bore toward said diaphragm to cutthrough said diaphragm and form an opening connecting said passageways,whereupon the cut away portion of said diaphragm will be seated againstsaid anvil and the inwardly tapering section will cause said cutterprongs to deform and spread outwardly into tight-fitting frictionalcontact with said bore upon seating of the cut away portion of thediaphragm.

3. A normally closed valve having a body provided with a bore having aterminal section and a fluid transduction section, the latter beingprovided with inlet and outlet passageways and also being provided witha cap member at one end of said bore in said fluid transduction section,an inwardly presented frusto-conical shaped anvil mounted on said capmember and having an inwardly tapering section, a frangible diaphragm insaid fluid transduction section of said bore and interposed as a closurebetween said passageways, a valve opener including a pluglike elementrigidly seated at one end in the terminal section and being internallyrecessed to provide a walled chamber having a zone of weakness and aportion extending beyond the zone of weakness toward the transductionsection, said chamber terminating in an annular skirt, said portionhaving an external diametral size substantially equal to the internaldiametral size of the bore so as to fit snugly but nevertheless slidablytherein, a diaphragm cutter mounted on said portion and facing towardsaid diaphragm, said diaphragm cutter being provided with a plurality ofconverging annularly disposed triangularly shaped prongs which are inspaced relation to said diaphragm, a detonable pyrotechnical chargepositioned within said chamber, and potting material completelysurrounding said charge and filling said chamber, said pyrotechnicalcharge being operable upon detonation to flare said annular skirtoutwardly in tight sealforming engagement with said bore, saiddetonation further causing said plug-like element to break apart andthereby sever a piston-like solid portion from the rigidly seatedportion at the zone of weakness and drive the severed portion of thevalve opener and cutter along the bore toward said diaphragm to cutthrough said diaphragm and form an opening connecting said passageways,whereupon the cut away portion of said diaphragm will be seated againstsaid anvil and the inwardly tapering section will cause said cutterprongs to deform and spread outwardly into tight-fitting frictionalcontact with said bore upon seating of the cut away portion of thediaphragm.

4. A normally closed valve having a body provided with a bore, said borealso being provided in its forward end with inlet and outletpassageways, a diaphragm in said bore and interposed between saidpassageways, said bore having an enlarged tapered clearance portionremote from and converging toward said diaphragm, a frusto-conicalabutment located in said bore on the opposite side of one of saidpassageways with respect to the diaphragm, said abutment having aninwardly tapering section, a valve opener having a piston-like elementoperatively mounted in said bore rearwardly of the inlet passageway,said piston-like element being integrally provided with a rearwardlyextending skirt having an internal chamber, said skirt having aperipheral groove forming an annular zone of weakness, said peripheralgroove being located in the clearance portion of the bore, saidpiston-like element also being provided with a cutter having a pluralityof cutting prongs facing said diaphragm, and a pyrotechnical chargelocated in the chamber of said piston-like element, and upon detonationwill drive said opener and cutter toward said diaphragm so that saidcutting prongs will cut a slug from said diaphragm and seat the slugagainst said abutment, said prongs being deformable upon seating of saidslug so as to contact firmly the wall of said bore adjacent saidabutment and hold the slug rigidly thereagainst.

5. A normally closed valve having a body provided with a bore, said borealso being provided in its forward end with inlet and outletpassageways, a diaphragm in said bore and interposed between saidpassageways, said bore having an enlarged tapered portion remote fromand converging toward said diaphragm, an abutment located in said boreon the opposite side of one of said passageways with respect to thediaphragm, said abutment having an inwardly tapering section, a valveopener having a piston-like element operatively mounted in said borerearwardly of the inlet passageway, said piston-like element beingintegrally provided with a rearwardly extending skirt having an internalchamber, said skirt having a peripheral groove forming an annular zoneof weakness, said peripheral groove being located in the tapered portionof the bore, said skirt having a slightly smaller diametral size thanthe bore at the tapered portion forming a clearance space between thewall of the bore and the zone of weakness, said piston-like element alsobeing provided with a cutter having a plurality of cutting prongstapering inwardly toward said diaphragm, and a pyrotechnical chargelocated in the chamber of said piston-like element,

and upon detonation will drive said opener and cutter toward saiddiaphragm so that said cutting prongs will cut a slug from saiddiaphragm and seat the slug against said abutment, said prongs beingdeformable upon seating of said slug so as to contact firmly the wall ofsaid bore adjacent said abutment and hold the slug rigidly thereagainst.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS OTHERREFERENCES Explosive Actuated Valves by Maurice M. Connell, publishedSept. 24, 1956, Catalog 5501-KV.

